Climate change is no longer a future threat; it is displacing millions now, particularly in vulnerable regions like South Asia. The world must act before the crisis becomes unmanageable.
Bangladesh: Ground Zero of Climate Migration
Bangladesh, with its low-lying deltaic geography, was cited as one of the most affected countries, where over 1.5 million people were displaced in 2023 alone due to intensified monsoon floods and cyclone events. The southern districts of Satkhira, Khulna, and Bhola have seen mass migrations, with many families moving to urban slums in Dhaka and Chattogram.
Environmental scientist Dr. Saleemul Huq noted, We are witnessing the slow drowning of our coastal communities. Entire livelihoods are vanishing, and yet there is no international legal framework to recognize them as ‘climate refugees’.
Legal Vacuum: No Status for Climate Refugees
Despite the scale of the crisis, climate-displaced individuals are not recognized as refugees under international law. The 1951 Refugee Convention does not cover those displaced by environmental factors. As a result, millions are without legal protection, aid, or resettlement options.
UNHCR has urged member states to begin negotiating a Global Compact on Climate Migration, which would provide legal status, rights, and aid mechanisms for climate-displaced populations.
Funding Gap and Injustice
Another major concern highlighted was the climate finance gap. Though developed countries pledged $100 billion annually in climate finance under the Paris Agreement, less than half of that amount has been disbursed. Moreover, most funding is directed toward mitigation, while the needs of displaced populations require adaptation and humanitarian support.
Bangladesh’s Minister for Environment called on wealthy nations to compensate those suffering from emissions they did not cause
and to establish a Loss and Damage Fund, as agreed at COP28.
Regional Impact and Future Projections
Beyond Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka have also experienced climate-related displacement. Droughts in India’s Maharashtra, floods in Pakistan’s Sindh, and glacial melt in Nepal are forcing people from their homes. The World Bank projects that by 2050, South Asia could see 40 million climate-displaced people, turning climate migration into the largest mass movement of people in modern history.
Conclusion
As the world prepares for COP29 later this year, climate-induced displacement is set to become a central issue. UN officials stressed that without bold and urgent action, climate change could undo decades of development gains.
Filippo Grandi concluded, The time for debate is over. We must recognize climate refugees, fund adaptation, and create safe pathways for those fleeing climate disaster.